Bracelet clasp



Sept. 30, 1930.-; l c. A. DoMLR 41,776,892.. ,BRAGBLET cLAsP A Filed oct. 9. 1929 lai 101919 ff f 6 1%! We? ik?" l .l clamp upon PatentedV Sept. i 370, 1195K?`v` cHAnLnsA. DOMLERQOF rRoVIDENGn, 'RHODE ISLAND, AssIGfNoR 'ro'rHE HADLEY COMPANY, rNo.,

on PROVIDENCE, ISLAND, -Y 'Y y Bini'cerner"creer` 'pappiieanoa ined october 9,1929. Vserian-JN0, 398,532.'

4 This invention relates to clasps for brace` Y lets or the like andpertainsmore particularly to a center catch for wristwatch bracelets.,`

` The principal object ofthe invention is to p`ro-.

` vide an improved clasp or centercatch which is compact and attractive inappearance, simple and economical to manufacture, easily operated yet securely locked against casual sepa- Y ration, and durable in use.VV

wrist watches, but it will be apparent that the improved catch may be employed withbraceingsin associationwith a cord'bracelet :for

i 'n i5 lets'of various types as well as for 'other' purposes. In the drawings, 1

Figs. 1, 2 and' are y views respectively of a bracelet equipped with the improved center catch Y Y Fig. f1 is .an enlarged front view showing the clasp elements in separated position; and Fig 5 is a'sideview illustrating the clasp 4 members engagedbut unlocked.

The particularembodiment chosen for the i purpose of illustration comprises apair of looped cords 6 intended for attachment toca wrist watch or thelike, split rings 7 surrounding and sliding along the cord and end links 8 connected by the improved catch and at- Y 39 tached to thefree ends of the respective cords.

Thelinks 8 include gripping elements 9 whichl thecord ends in the manner describedl inthe patent to Charles A. Mealy` No.

1,717,5711,.but`the precise construction ofthe end links is not essential to the present invention.

from the forward edge of 'its front face, and

11 similarly positioned. A locking member or latch l2 provided atone end with oppositely directed studs orpins 13 which are received within the yendsv of the` knuckle 10, is pivoted to the corresponding link to swing v into locking engagement with a hook member 14 affixed to said link as by soldering it upon Vthe bottom ofthe knuckle 10. The curved end of the hook 14 is bifurcated, providing a central slot 15, and a crossbar 16 may be soldered y A recommended embodiment of theinven-4 `tion is illustrated in the accompanying drawf front, side and rear- One of the links 8 visjpreferably formed with a lug orknuckle 10 curving downwardly Y on thelunderyside ofthe hook; portion lrto prevent spreadingthereof. The latchlQ has YRHODE ISLAND,f A CORPORATION.` or1V RHODE Y similarly curved-'ends 18 arrangedto snap i over and frictionally lock upon thehooks16V the ends j18 `being divided by a corresponding l slot 19.1 VAn upwardly projectingtongue-20 may be formed on the' latch .12, atthefendfof bythe finger nail. 1,

The knuckle '11: of `the oppc-)jsiteV a central slot 21, anda metal member, substantially' in `the forni: ofthe letter 1H, is gripped saidknuckle, asbest sho'wx'rjinFig. el, to Vprovide .a projecting 'lf-shaped connector '22,

'the leg ofthe connector',passingv through the slot 21. It isthusapparent thatin order to interconnect the twoend links, thetransverse head ofthe'eTashaped connector 23 is engaged behind thehooks17` (Fig. 5V) with the leg ref 1 ceived in'slot 15, and the pivoted clasp" 12 is then'swung to snap over saidhook to enclose the connectorwithin the overlapped hook portions 17 and 1S. As indicated above, the

clasp maybe readily released by'lifting the proiecting-tongue 20 to disengage theVv latch and permitV the withdrawal ofthe connectori the slot119, to permit the latch to be released l From theforegoing it will be apparent that i the improved clasp or center catch not onlyV ensures easy and secure attachment of the end links 8 and permits the parts to'be separated so,Y

witliout excessive effort or inconvenience, but

also provides acompact fastening element which is attractive in appearance', and which is unlikely to 'be marred or damaged during use.

l claim:

1.2A clasp for detachably connecting a Y' `Jair of end linkscom is'n a h l n 40 the other link preferably has alug or knuckle l i Pr L g 00g' Ember projecting from one of the linksafnd having a bifurcated end, a connector projecting.

from the otherlink and having a. leg portion received within said bifurcated end and aV having a curved end formed with a central Y slot so that the latch snaps over the bifurj` Cil cated hook With the leg of the connector received in said slot.

9.. A bracelet clasp comprising a pair of separable links each havinga knuckle at its free end, a hook member alixed to one of the links and projecting forwardly beneath its knuckle, a4 latch stra'ddling andpivoted in said knuckle, and a. connector fixed in the knuckle of the other link and having;` a` leg portion projecting fromvthe center Vof the knuckle and a T-head at the end of the leg', the hook member having a biiurcated end providing a central slot for receiving Said leg when the T-head is engaged behind. the hook, and the latch closing` upon and lockinfY with the hook to enclose (he connector.

3. A bracelet clasp comprising a pair of separable links each having` a knuckle at its free end, a hook member atlixed to one 4of the links and proiecting forwardly beneath its knuckle, a latch straddling and pivoted in said knuckle, and a connector fixed in the knuckle of the other link and having a. leg portion projecting from the center of the knuckle and a T-head at the end oi the leg. the hook member having a bifurcatod end providing a central slot for receiving said leg whenthe T-head is engaged behind the hook, and the latch having,r a. curved end formed with a` central slot so thatY the latch snaps over the bifurcatezl hook to enclose the connector with the les); of the connector received in said latch slot. Y

Signed by me at Providence, Rhode Island, this 30th day of September, 1929.

CHARLES A. DOMLER. 

